Participants shake hands and celebrate their graduation from the Brightleaf to Berkshires program at the University Farm recently. The program, through the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, helps former tobacco and other commodity farmers transition to pork production.


Moving from one operation to another is a leap of faith for farmers. But, if done with care and under guidance, changing a farm’s main commodity offers both financial and experiential rewards, farmers statewide say.

During the last two years, two groups of farmers have taken that leap, transitioning from producing tobacco and other crops to producing pork and pork products, all with the help of N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension’s “From Bright Leaf to Berkshires” program and Professor Derrick Coble, Ph.D. swine specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences.

The two classes capped off their experience with a graduation ceremony at the University Farm Pavilion on March 6.

Group of fifteen people posing for a photo in front of a screen displaying the text

Swine Unit Specialist Douglas Jones, Jr. serves the pulled pork he prepared for the occasion.

Coble, who is the program’s director, said the program began as a way to allow tobacco farmers who have been financially impacted by tobacco policy and social changes to improve the profitability of their farm operations by learning to produce Berkshire pigs using hoop structure barns, an alternative swine production system.

Coble built the program with a $210,152 North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission grant.

“We’re here to celebrate the accomplishments of community members and farmers that have dedicated their Friday evenings and Saturday mornings to learn practical, hands-on techniques at the N.C. A&T Swine Unit,” Coble said. “When I think of this program, I think of family. We have two different cohorts today who have been talking, engaging in fellowship and fostering collaboration.”

The 18 farmers enrolled in the program’s “swine school” took part in 10 lessons covering everything from production basics, such as nutrition and reproduction, to more advanced topics in waste management, welfare and behavior, diseases, and niche marketing opportunities.

“We are proud to support a program that empowers farmers by introducing alternative production techniques and niche marketing to help build sustainable, profitable farms,” said John Ashe, a commission board member from Rockingham County. “Your dedication to learning new agricultural practices strengthens our farms and your farms as well in the state.”

Alongside Coble and Assistant Farm Superintendent Douglas Jones, who is also swine unit coordinator at the University Farm, the workshops were facilitated by Jan Archer, former president of the National Pork Board); Stephanie Kulesza, Ph.D. of the NC State University Crop and Soil Sciences Department; Lee Menius, technical specialist, NC Choices; Jake Groce, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences’ Meat and Poultry Inspection Division; John and Emily Barnes of Bravo Cattle Co.; and 2018 N.C. Cooperative Extension Small Farmer of the Year Ronald Simmons, of Master Blend Family Farms.

Kevin Chestnutt, a Sampson County farmer and returning A&T student, called the program “an amazing opportunity” to connect with other producers across the state.

“We were versed in artificial insemination, the science behind the diets that you feed pigs in order to maximize the production of pork that you’d get from an animal,” said Chestnutt. “I was originally raised on a hog farm in Sampson County, and with this, I want to preserve the past and embrace the future at the same time.”

Caswell County farmer Santonio Bolton noted the differences between raising hogs, as his grandparents did, to “growing pork” today.

“It’s all about quality, it’s all about biosecurity, it’s about learning so many different things that you don’t think of when you grow up doing it on a farm,” Bolton said.

Coble and his group will monitor the group for the next two years to make sure that all participants’ entry into pork production allows them to bring home the bacon.

So far, the program has accounted for 25 jobs, $552,500 worth of pork products sold, and more than $22,000 in tax revenue for the state, Coble said.

Gallery

Three men stand in a room with wooden doors, engaged in conversation. The man on the left wears a gray suit jacket, the man in the center wears a blue suit jacket, checkered shirt, and patterned tie, and the man on the right wears a brown blazer, blue shirt, and a cap.

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M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D. N.C. A&T Associate Dean and Cooperative Extension Program Administrator, center, at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

A man wearing black gloves and a brown blazer serves pulled pork from a large outdoor grill to someone holding a plate at a graduation event, with a white fence and blue sky in the background.

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Douglas Jones, Assistant Farm Superintendent/Swine Unit Coordinator, serves pork at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NC A&T SU Farm.

A man in a brown blazer, blue checkered shirt, and cap stands at a wooden podium with a microphone, speaking in a room. The podium has a sign that reads "North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Agriculture and Environmental Sciences." A computer monitor is on the podium.

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Douglas Jones Assistant Farm Superintendent/Swine Unit Coordinator at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

Three men stand in a room with wooden doors and a projection screen displaying "Welcome," engaged in conversation. The man on the left wears a blue jacket, the man in the center wears a blue blazer over a checkered shirt and jeans, and the man on the right wears a blue suit jacket over a checkered shirt. Yellow tablecloths cover tables in the background.

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Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

A group of people sit in a semicircle in a room with wooden doors and blue carpet, participating in a discussion. A woman in a black blazer and striped shirt stands on the left, holding papers. Eight individuals sit on chairs, one holding a microphone and speaking, wearing a brown vest over a plaid shirt. The others wear casual clothing, including a light-colored suit jacket, an orange shirt, a black beanie, a red shirt, and a brown leather jacket. A projection screen displays a collage of people, and a television screen shows a similar image. A wooden podium and a table with a yellow tablecloth are in the background.

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Round table discussion with graduates, moderated by Dr. Hannah Talton, Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist, left, at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

Two men stand in a room with a wooden door and a yellow tablecloth-covered table, engaged in conversation. The man on the left wears a blue suit, checkered shirt, and patterned tie, gesturing with his hands. The man on the right wears a light-colored suit jacket over a white shirt, holding his hands together.

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M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D. N.C. A&T Associate Dean and Cooperative Extension Program Administrator, left, chats with graduate Brandon Wiley at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

A woman in a black blazer and striped shirt stands in a room with blue carpet, holding papers and speaking. Two men sit on chairs in front of her, engaged in a discussion. The man on the left wears a light-colored suit jacket and jeans, holding a microphone. The man on the right wears a green vest over a plaid shirt, a cap, and green pants, also holding a microphone. A wooden podium and a computer monitor are in the background.

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Round table discussion with graduates, moderated by Dr. Hannah Talton, Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist, left, at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

A man in a blue suit, checkered shirt, and patterned tie stands at a wooden podium with a microphone, speaking in a room. The podium has a sign that reads "North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Agriculture and Environmental Sciences." A computer monitor is on the podium.

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M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D. N.C. A&T Associate Dean and Cooperative Extension Program Administrator at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

Two men sit in a room with wooden paneling, engaged in a discussion. The man on the left wears a black jacket, black beanie, and holds a microphone. The man on the right wears a green vest over a black shirt and jeans, holding a rolled-up document and gesturing with his hand.

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Farmer Wayne Walton is overcome with emotion during the round table discussion with graduates, moderated by Dr. Hannah Talton, Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist, at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

Three men stand in a room with wooden doors and blue carpet, engaged in conversation. The man on the left wears a blue suit jacket over a checkered shirt, the man in the center wears a gray suit jacket, white shirt, and striped tie, gesturing with his hand, and the man on the right wears a blue and yellow checkered shirt with khaki pants. In the background, people sit at a table with a yellow tablecloth.

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John Ashe, NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission board member, center, chats with Jeff Camden, NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission Program Officer, right, and M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D. N.C. A&T Associate Dean and Cooperative Extension Program Administrator, chat at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

Two men stand in a room with blue carpet and wooden doors, engaged in conversation. The man on the left wears a plaid shirt, jeans, and a cap, with his hands in his pockets. The man on the right wears a blue suit jacket over a checkered shirt. Two other people are in the background near a table with a yellow tablecloth.

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Graduate Aaron Perkins, left, and Derrick Coble, Ph.D. Assistant Professor/Swine Specialist and Program Coordinator chat at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

A group of people sit in a circle in a room with wooden doors and blue carpet, participating in a discussion. A woman in a black blazer and striped shirt stands on the left, holding a microphone. Five men sit on chairs, one holding a microphone and gesturing, wearing a plaid shirt and cap. The others wear casual clothing, including a green vest, an orange shirt, and a black beanie. A television screen on the wall displays a group of people.

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Round table discussion with graduates, moderated by Dr. Hannah Talton, Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist, left, at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

A group of people sit in a circle in a room with wooden doors and blue carpet, participating in a discussion. A woman in a black blazer and striped shirt stands on the left, holding papers. Five men sit on chairs, one holding a microphone and speaking, wearing an orange shirt. The others wear casual clothing, including a light-colored suit jacket, a green vest with a plaid shirt and cap, a brown jacket, and a black beanie. A wooden podium with a computer monitor is in the background.

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Round table discussion with graduates, moderated by Dr. Hannah Talton, Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist, left, at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.

A woman with curly hair stands in a room, holding papers in her hands. She wears a black blazer over a white shirt with black horizontal stripes and glasses.

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Dr. Hannah Talton, Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist, at the Bright Leaf to Berkshires Graduation Ceremony at the NCA&TSU Farm.